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S. 1437 Senate Science, Technology, Communications

ASCEND Act

Introduced
Apr 10, 2025
Sponsor
Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. (D-CO)
View on Congress.gov

STAGE 4 OF 8 — HOUSE FLOOR

Currently in the Senate. Last action: held at the desk on Dec 10, 2025.

  1. Senate Introduced in Senate Apr 10, 2025
  2. Senate Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Apr 10, 2025
  3. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably. Apr 30, 2025
  4. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-68. Sep 29, 2025
  5. Senate Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 173. Sep 29, 2025
  6. Senate Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. Dec 9, 2025
  7. Senate Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8581; text: CR S8581) Dec 9, 2025
  8. House Received in the House. Dec 10, 2025
  9. Senate Message on Senate action sent to the House. Dec 10, 2025
  10. House Held at the desk. Dec 10, 2025

Cosponsors

1

Subjects

Congressional oversightEarth sciencesPhotography and imagingSpace flight and explorationSpacecraft and satellites

Committees

  • Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
    • Reported By , Sep 29, 2025
    • Markup By , Apr 30, 2025
    • Referred To , Apr 10, 2025

Summary

Accessing Satellite Capabilities to Enable New Discoveries Act or the ASCEND ActThis bill provides statutory authority for the Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition (CSDA) program run by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Through the CSDA program, NASA acquires remote sensing data and imagery from commercial satellites to support its Earth science research. (Remote sensing generally refers to the collection of data by instruments in Earth’s orbit, such as satellites, that can be processed into imagery of Earth’s surface.)Under the bill, NASA may establish or modify end-use agreements to allow for broad use of data and imagery acquired under the program, including by individuals outside of NASA (e.g., other federal agencies). The terms of any data or imagery acquisition may not prevent the publication of such data or imagery for scientific purposes or the publication of information derived from it. To the extent practicable, NASA must acquire such data and imagery from U.S. vendors.  

Summary as of: Passed Senate

Bill Text

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